The Value of Health Care in the United States

Medical care in the United States has become increasingly complex and has created an overwhelming crisis in the health care system. The cost of medical treatment has become unaffordable to the majority of the population, and many Americans cannot afford their insurance premiums. Total health care spending increased from 6 billion dollars each year in 1980, to 2.7 trillion dollars in 2011 (Moses et al. 2013). That is equivalent to eight thousand dollars a year, per man, woman and child in the United States. Many American’s ask where their money is being used and how much value it is adding to them as a patient. According to a recent JAMA study, about 20% of total health care expenditures are wasted dollars, which is approximately 500 billion dollars per year (Berwick & Hackbarth 2012). During my research, I have discovered many shocking statistics that prove that we as patients in the United States, are not receiving the true value of what we are paying for medical treatment. In my essay, I will validate my results with statistics and scholarly resources, and suggest changes that can be made to improve the current health care disaster we face. I believe the current health care financial crisis is caused by patients being forced to pay for services that are unnecessary, medical professionals failing to prioritize their patients’ needs over their own, and the unaffordable premiums that American’s have to pay to insurance companies to receive adequate medical treatment. Medical treatments and procedures in the United States are being overused and abused by hospitals and providers. In the video “Money and Medicine” aired on PBS, an interviewed professional stated “about 30% of health care spending is devoted to unnecessary health c... ... middle of paper ... ...’s have the opportunity to receive health coverage, and medical payments are more affordable to make, the amount of uncompensated medical services will be dramatically reduced, as well. The cure for this contaminated system has to begin with a very big step, which begins with hospitals and providers. To make these juristic changes, they must begin grasping the idea that doing more is not always better, and the main goal in providing superior medical treatment is putting the patients’ health needs ahead of their own personal profit. Too many Americans are unaware of this dire issue, and I encourage you to do your own research on this growing issue. The statistics and information you could find is astounding and eye-opening. I have confidence that widespread education of these inadequacies would provide further positive changes in the United States health care system.